Effects of ethanol on human blood fibrinolysis and coagulation

The effect of ethanol (serum concentrations 10 and 22 mM) on whole blood clotting time, thromboplastin activity and whole blood clot lysis time were studied in eight healthy humans. Each subject serving as its own control. Ethanol (22 mM) increased the whole blood clotting time by 26 +/- 29% (p less than 0.05), whereas the thromboplastin activity (in both unstimulated and endotoxin stimulated monocytes) was significantly decreased in presence of ethanol (both 10 and 22 mM). The whole blood clot lysis time was increased by 83 +/- 9 and 260 +/- 178 percent in presence of 10 and 22 mM ethanol respectively. After the high ethanol doses, ten hours after the end of the voluntary ethanol intake, the whole blood clot lysis time was increased with 133 +/- 105 percent. According to the present findings, acute ethanol intake affect blood fibrinolysis activity, as measured by whole blood clot lysis time, in a way which might precipitate a state of increased risk of thrombotic diseases.